Colorado's Democratic governor will let Trump ally Tina Peters out of prison early

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 15, 2026 4:45 PM ET


DENVER — Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has reduced the state prison sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted of tampering with election equipment, allowing her to be eligible for parole on June 1. The controversial decision follows a months-long pressure campaign from President Trump and his administration to free Peters from state custody.

In April, a state appeals court upheld Peters' 2024 conviction but ruled that she should be re-sentenced, saying that the trial court judge who issued her nearly nine-year sentence improperly factored in her protected speech.

Peters was convicted for her role in facilitating a security breach of Mesa County's voting machines when she was clerk and recorder. The incident occurred six months after the 2020 election, as part of her effort to prove Trump's baseless claims of a rigged election.

Peters' conviction and sentence have stood out because legal efforts to hold Trump and many other allies accountable for attempts to overturn that election have faltered.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5690286/tina-peters-polis-commutation-trump

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REFERENCES (some/most recent)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143500669
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143516700
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143563209
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143565598
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143572394
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143580977
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143581176
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143587896
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143596138
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143598746
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143599507
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143626724
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143627671
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143631064
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143637222
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642750

[ALBliberal]

1. DINO

[obamanut2012]

5. He has said he is a MAHA guy, and likes RFKJr

[Ritabert]

2. So much for Polis.

[ancianita]

19. My ex in CO, told me last night that CO folks are getting pissed off at Polis, who seems to have been swinging

right in the last 5 months. Not just over this particular issue. Maybe other CO folks here can explain Democratic voters' negative view of him better than my ex did.

[Ritabert]

22. Thanks for the info.

[popsdenver]

34. He has leaned right for corporations

since the beginning of his first term, this second term was as a lame duck, so he could do anything he wanted and he took a hard right towards corporations.
After all he was raised in a large Corporate Family, and educated in Corporate influenced Business schools. He then had his families money to back him in starting a business...........

He has been talking back and forth with Trump for some time about pardoning her. She tried to undermine the voting system. She allowed access to the voting machines, by a couple of Republican Nerds. Supposedly to check to see if the voting had been tampered with by those machines......what the news never mentions is that they were after the Hard drives/software of those machines used in many states, not just Colorado. You can bet they were exploring the software to see how it could be tampered with, much like EIS? did in the 2004? Election.

Rumor is, that Polis is gonna back our U.S. Senator who is running to replace Polis as Colorado Governor, and in turn, Bennet will recommend Polis to fill out Bennet's term in the U.S. Senate. Bennet couldn't run a pop stand, as he proved in his only claim to fame being Superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, in which he made some major blunders.
We have heard previous little from him, Hickenlooper, and DeGette the entire time they have been in the U.S. House and Senate.
Seeing as Colorado is being targeted BIGLY by the Republicans, trashing on us every chance they get, you would think that those three would have been screaming their heads off from the rooftops.....NOT........they have said nothing this past decade. I saw where DeGette is already running campaign ads, like she has never had to do before......she must be running scared?
Bennet is running ads for Governor, and that is the first we have heard anything from him in forever...... Wonderful that he can spend his time in Colorado Campaigning, and keep his job/income as U.S. Senator..............

[underpants]

3. Boo!👎

[Chasstev365]

4. BULL SHIT!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. FUCK HIM. FUCK HIM. FUCK HIM.

I don't care if I get reported.

[COL Mustard]

48. Who's gonna report you?

Probably most people agree with you!

We have no standards anymore. The guardrails are down; do whatever you want.

[Wuddles440]

7. When Pedo Don whines and bellows...

everyone eventually submits. The application and enforcement of the "Rule of Law" only applies to matters concerning non-MAGATS. Beyond disgusting!

[brer cat]

8. I guess that sos we can't count on all Democratic governors

not to bend to trump's pressure.

[Cha]

35. Certainly not Polis. I'm furious, too, Cat..

I was born and raised in Denver. Colorado is always in my heart.

Thankfully, we do have Dem Govs we can count on: Gov Newsom, Gov Pritzker, Gov Josh Green, Gov Wes Moore, Gov Healey, Gov Katy Hobbs, Gov Kathy Hochul, Gov Josh Shapiro, Gov Tina Kotek, Gov Bob Fergusson, Gov Andy Beshear, Gov Janet Mils, Gov Ned Lamont, Gov Spanberger, Gov Matt Meyer, Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham, Gov Dan McKee, Gov Josh Stein, Gov Laura Kelly, Gov Tim Walz, Gov Whitmer, Gov Mikie Sherrill, and Gov Tony Evers

Then of course, there's Vermont with a Republican Gov., apparently "moderate".

Hopefully, next time Colorado gets a strong Democratic Gov.

[Miguelito Loveless]

9. Goddamn it!

This is why we lose.

[Ponietz]

30. Bread knives at gun fights

[bluestarone]

10. Will she be back to work as a clerk?

Wouldn't surprise me a bit!! Thank you for NOTHING Governor!@!

[riversedge]

27. I am sure that Trump and his thugs have a good paying job for her!!

[bluestarone]

28. Oh, i'm sure!! She is

a born again NAZI!!!!

[rurallib]

11. big mistake IMHO

There must be sufficient punishment to deter the next one

[Buddyzbuddy]

12. Another damn state that goes on my list.

It's getting tougher and tougher to traverse this Country.

I genuinely feel bad for Coloradans that were fooled by this Assh*le.

Rule of law my ass!

[Cha]

24. This is Polis' last term and I bet Dems in

Colorado are just as mad as we are, if not madder.

I'm not writing Colorado off.

[Bristlecone]

36. This one is.

I was less than kind in another OP. Some unflattering swears might even have been expressed.….

[Cha]

39. ".. Writing off Colorado.." Why? nt

[Bristlecone]

50. Mad

Not writing off

[Cha]

51. Oh Good.. sorry!

[niyad]

40. This Dem certainly is.

[Cha]

42. "writing of Colorado" because of Polis?

I don't understand? Polis will be gone, and Colorado will get a real Dem Gov. Hopefully!

[niyad]

44. You said "Dems in Colorado are just as mad as we are"

[Cha]

46. Oh sorry... Yes, if not madder. I can

imagien.

Brainwashed by lies..Tina Peters broke very serious election laws. She deserved her verdict.

Not buying what Polis is selling.

[niyad]

53. I scared my poor kitty when I read that. Then I called jared's office

to express my displeasure.

Poppet time!

[Cha]

54. Oh Good! Mahalo, niyad!

Colorado will always be in my heart. ❤️

What's Poppet time!?

[Buddyzbuddy]

45. Only while he's in office, for now.

[Cha]

47. Good!

[Buddyzbuddy]

49. That would be like blaming the good Democrats of Pennsylvania for Fetterman.

[Cha]

52. Right? That's all on Fetterman.

Like Polis.

[Scubamatt]

13. When we "go high" and try to "look forward"

all these thugs learn is that there is no accountability and that they can get away with impunity.

[LuvLoogie]

14. GOPs will like that

[Grins]

15. Really, Governor? We need better Democrats. NM

[Cha]

25. Yes, as a Colorado Gov... he 'shouldn't

smear all Dem Govs or Dems.

Polis has other signs of appeasing the Traitor regime... signaling approval of rfk jr.

[AZ8theist]

16. WHY??!?? WHY THE FUCK WHY???

FUCKING COWARD.

[tonekat]

17. Does he really think that if the tables were turned

He, or any Dem would get a sliver of a fraction of a break from the "cruelty is the point" crowd??

Fetterman Syndrome - avoid at all costs.

[RobertDevereaux]

18. GOOD GOD, NO!!!!!!!!!!

[blue-wave]

20. Well, isn't this perfect timing!

Just in time for the midterms! How long before she's appointed to head the state's election operation?

[kimbutgar]

21. I will never respect him for being a DINO

F Jared Polis!

[Indyfan53]

23. He can forget running in '28

Or for any officer after this.

[niyad]

41. He is term-limited as governor.

[Fil1957]

26. This is the kind of crap that's been killing the Democratic party brand for years. No backbone, rolling over and

playing dead, as if that's going to attract voters. It doesn't. It demoralizes the base and invites disrespect from others. It sends the message that the party is weak. And most Americans despise weakness.

And if Polis thinks he or the party will get any points or favors from Trump or the Republicans for this, he is living in a world of fantasy. In fact, his action will only invite future election tampering by giving Peters a slap on the wrist, instead of allowing her to serve out her sentence, thus incentivizing this type of criminal act.

As Churchill said regarding Chamberlain's appeasement to Hitler: "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war."

Our party leaders just don't understand the gravity of this historical moment. They're still living in 1985. This is depressing and demoralizing.

[SusieCreamcheese]

29. She was never serious

She was never serious about her position as County Clerk. She was there for just ONE reason: To disrupt the election process to advantage Trump's chances. She is a deeply flawed human being and a disgrace to the professional position that she corrupted. Since her sentencing, Trump has done as much damage to Colorado as possible, i.e., the dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, relocating the US Space Command to Alabama, and cutting off funds to needy Colorado families. Attorney General Phil Weiser has sued to stop the Space Command relocation. He is currently looking to run for Colorado's next governor.

[NBachers]

32. Great! Just in time for her to go out & fuck up another crucial election. Thanks a lot, you maggot-covered piece of shit

[Gore1FL]

33. Going to the middle, eh?

That always works....

[Javaman]

37. He's not eligible for a third term

He shows his true colors.

Fuck this prick

[Sneederbunk]

55. But he is eligible for whatever TSF is paying him.

[PatrickforB]

38. Polis is a gutless limp noodle. He always has been, pretty much. He had the chance to raise a middle finger

to fucking Trump and give him a nice big Colorado Fuck You! but instead he caved.

I was born in Colorado and have lived here all my life, and this decision by our governor, who SHOULD be looking out for us, instead betrays the people of the state I love.

Doesn't say much for his character.

[niyad]

43. For those who might want to express their views:

office of the governor:
303-866-2471

[BigmanPigman]

56. I just posted this under the "CO forum"

I hope I didn't dupe it. If I did I'll delete it. I was just watching a podcast and saw it there 15 minutes ago. I included the podcast video in my post.

I am super pissed off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!